[4] Over the next three years a variety of factors dented his confidence however, and despite his undoubted skill on the ball he failed to become a first team regular at Celtic Park.
[7][8] However, the arrival of new signings Frank McAvennie and, in particular, Joe Miller, saw Archdeacon drift out of manager Billy McNeill's plans as the season progressed.
He picked up a winner's medal in April 1997 when his side defeated Colchester 4–3 on penalties to win the Football League Trophy.
[14] Late in 1997 former Celtic team-mate Billy Stark paid £100,000 to take him to Greenock Morton[15] and Archdeacon played for and captained his home town side until his retirement through ankle injury in 1999.
[18] His son Mark Archdeacon is currently playing in the Scottish Junior Football League with Dalry Thistle after spells with Motherwell, Brechin City and Clyde.